Happy New year! The First Post For 2026.

 A little later than expected... because I have been "Busy" doing things... 

Like Sleeping...   AND Working.   I have been working.  

But it was a restful five day vacation from the Haribo.   I finally got to catch up on all of that sleep I had been missing. 

And then it was back to work.  

Ah well,   nothing stays the same forever.  right?  

So what has this week consisted of?  A few things.   A few "resolutions" or goals for the new year.  And I'm sure it will take the entire year to accomplish them.  As with all resolutions, I hesitate to write about them too quickly, for fear they will evaporate the moment I put them down in writing.  But if you read the blog with any consistency, you may pick up on a few things as they progress.   We shall see how things pan out.  

As for this week... (because I can barely remember the Holidays now...) I guess now that the spirit cat has been made real,  I find that she has become a distraction.  

Both good and bad.    She gives me something to do when I get home and provides me a reason to come home each night, instead of wasting time elsewhere.  

That being said,  she also keeps me from blogging or doing any "practical" things like research, blogging, or writing.  Even my origami has suffered!   I now have to go out to fold something, because she will either meow obsessively or climb on the paper!  

I set up the old computer to loop cat videos around the clock.  And although that does help her a little,   she usually gets bored after a while and turns back to harassing me.  

Not the worst problem, I guess.   I do enjoy playing with the cat on the paper tower and blanket floor I have set up for her.   ( she loves slide tackles!) And it is nice to have something warm to cuddle up with when I take an afternoon nap.  

Which reminds me of yesterday's surprise!   While I was napping in the comfy chair,   I heard what I originally thought was a small dog yipping.   But it did not go away,   so I thought it might be a car's bearing squeaking.  Again... it remained just outside the window... and sounded vaguely familiar.   Eventually,  I pieced it together that it sounded like  Turkey Call. 

What are Turkeys doing outside my window?   Sure enough!   A dozen or so were walking through the neighborhood like a cluster of Asian Tourists.   Snapping pictures of the sites as they walked through the area.  

  I ran to get dressed and grabbed my camera for a photo,  but by then,  they had moved down the street and were working their way through the neighbors yard.   They must have been in my front yard a while, because a few people had gathered to watch them. 

I thought this was unusual, however,  this happened last year very close to this place!   A turkey was walking and came up to eat some peanuts out of my hand.  I don't know where these guys call home, but it must be fairly close to this place.   

the local park does not really offer much habitat for them, so I'm thinking there must be another place that is slightly more wild.   Either way,  it is cool to have wildlife stop in for a visit now and then. 

One final note for this week.   Friday Phil Hall quit the Haribo.  I will have to blog separately about that, as the dust has not fully settled on the matter.  It was a shock to everyone,  especially ME! 

 ( Since he "helped" get me this job, by talking it up and telling me how awesome it was.)   And now he is gone... forever!   And the fall out is that everyone keeps asking me about it.   Like we were friends or something.   Well,  that will require an entire blog post for an explanation.  ( Both real and imaginary... on my part.)  So I am looking forward to that.  

In the mean time, Phil will me missed..    By some  most people at Haribo.  And me.   Because now Elsa and I will have to fight over the green gun because Phil will not give it to Elsa Directly.  

And I don't like violence.            

So now... as I watch the fire logs glow, I will end this blog post and prepare for tomorrow.  Time has, once again, became a rare commodity that I find I have very little of.  So I will try to make every second count. 

2025 Year in Review.

 As the last remaining minutes of this year tick by,  I wanted to remember and share the Roller Coaster ride I had this year.  Let's just say that I am FULLY looking forward to a new year and another opportunity to start over again.   (And just when I thought 2024 was bumpy!)   I know God has a way of Answering prayers.... And looking back,  he did just that.   But not in the way I had intended or wanted.  

That being said...  Things somehow all worked out!   And I actually had moments of fun and happiness and peace.    

So...  Without further delay...  Let's get started

The year started off with me still being a High School Science teacher...   It seems like a lifetime ago...but was actually less than a year.  

I went to a lot of Basketball Games and cheered the kids on.

I even judged a couple Robotics meets!  

We took on an Exchange Student and I drove him back and forth to school. 

But the teaching thing did not quite work out as well as I would have wanted.   And I guess the feeling was mutual... They were ready to let me go and I was ready to leave.   So it all worked out.  Not exactly the rosy colored world I had imagined or talked about in previous blog posts.   But there comes a time when you have a nagging question of life answered.  And you may not like the answer...  But at least you no longer have the question bugging you.   

With all that new found time,  I spent it mushroom hunting and nature walking.   And running.  

I had to burn off that anxiety somehow.   And although I did not have the same level of training as before,  I decided to run the half marathon here in Kenosha.  13.1 miles!  

I finished!  But I had to buy new running shoes a week before the race.   And as a result,  I did not have them thoroughly broke in.   Causing an injury in my foot that has plagued me all year!   

But before I could blame the shoes... something else happened.  

 Dave's House Burned Down!  

Just when I was worried that I would not be able to treat the stress of unemployment with running,   I now have an even bigger issue!   Homelessness!

Actually,   the Church rallied to our aid and I was never without shelter.   Another prayer God answered that was not in the way of my liking....   

But He is God... and Who am I to say otherwise....

Now,  With lots of Time,   New exotic living locations.   AND no earthly burdens to weigh me down.   I discovered  my love of Fishing once more!

I fished a LOT this year.    Mostly small ponds and streams.   With a LOT of bluegills to fry up.  

Dave and I also managed to go out on the Big Lake and catch a few Coho.  

Other events:   There were the Bag Pipers of Kenosha.

The AMC event on simmons Island.   (Too many pictures to show here.) 

 The 4th of July 5K...  Where I volunteered and caught up with a former student. 

And then there were the Mushrooms! 

 

LOTS and lots of Mushrooms this year! 

Eventually,  the money began to run out and the job search was beginning to grow cold.   After the fire,  I headed over to Zebra for an interview.    And secured the job.  

The next day... Haribo Called.

It really did come down to  the wire and benefits.   Haribo pays slightly more and has a nice benefits package.   But Zebra was familiar and I know a lot of the people. 

But I chose Haribo.  

From the "Ashes" of defeat to the glimmer of Gummies...  I somehow managed to find my way back into the warehouse/production  business and have enjoyed every minute of it.   

During that time,  Cheryl dropped in a few times to visit.  

I would frequently kidnap Christina's Dog for a walk and mushroom hunt.  

I ended up running the Turkey Trot... alone.   And SLowly!   (My foot injury has not fully healed.)

  

OH!  And I got a Cat.    Compliments of Christina. 

The cat has been a Ghost to me over the last several months.. Only showing up whenever Cheryl would come over to visit.  

But Now...  Somehow,  She has become annoyingly present and obvious!

I also traveled to Tennessee. 

And Saw Rod Stewart on my Birthday!. 

  I helped Pastor Gorde Move along with the Hinz....  ( The newest Teacher at the Middle School.) 

All of the Paper Fish I created are now gone...  But I managed to save two of them that did not get damaged from the water.   

The Walleye, Brown Trout were not so fortunate.  

 Well,  I'll skip the small stuff for now and begin to close this blog post out.   Let me just say, it was a heck of a ride!   The Chinese Animal for 2025 was the snake. Fitting....  if you don't like snakes.  Also fitting if you do.    They get a bad rap for the whole poison venom thing.... And the Fall of Man.   BUt really they provide a great service by keeping rodents and bugs down.   You just have to look past the scaly, slippery exterior and bad reputation. 

That being said,   I'm ready to embrace the Chinese  Zodiac Animal for 2026.   The Fire Horse!

I mean...  Things can only look up after being knocked down to the ground.  Am I right?  

A side note to my friend Dave.   "Pastor Pagel" to many around here.  After the House Burned down, he has had his share or bumpy roads and roller coaster rides as well.   But he is preparing for a new adventure in a not so distant place in Canada.   Perhaps his prayers have been answered as well...  (Though,  again,  I'm sure not the way he had imagined it...)  God knows what is best.   And I truly believe that even if the path seems bumpy and rough... it is the best  or ONLY possibly path.  

So have faith!   And Trust in Him. 

  So Happy New Year to Everyone who managed to drop into this lengthy Blog Post.    And Let's hope we can all make every second of this next year count.